MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3634, 23 June 1880, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Albubnia,--The lode at • the Sons of Freedom level has been junctioned with another large body of quartz across it from the hanging-wall side. It is composed of very hard quartz,'and the footwall of it has just been reached. 160 ft level: The contractors in the eastern drive

have driven 32ft during the last fortnight through a good plasß of country. The reef averages about 2ft in thickness, and contains good gold bearing minerals. All the quartz broken from it is saved and sent to the battery for orushing dirt. Good crushing dirt is coming to hand from the lode where preparations are, being made to commence stoping, In the stopes over the western drive the lode is yielding a large quantity of good, quartz, and occasionally a fewpounds of specimens and picked stone are obtained. Cleaning out and repairing Dixon's oross-cut at this level is proceeding satisfactorily. Intermediate level: A large quantity of first class crashing dirt is coming to hand from the stopes above this level, the reef being of good size, and containing excellent mineral indications, 70ftlevel: Stoping operations are.being carried on upon the footwall leader with good results. The leader is not very large, but pays for prospecting. Driving on the hanging-wall leader has been reoommenced, and it is now more compact than it was at the time when-driving was suspended upon it. In the stopes the leader looks exceedingly well, and contains good minerals, and shows large dabs of gold. Good crushing dirt is ooming to hand from the stopes above the eastern drive, and also from the stopes above the western drive. Yesterday the manager started men to clean out and repair Dixon's drive on the Whau level, with the view of commencing to sink a winze upon Dixon's to prove its quality downwards, and; effecting a connection with the crosscut whiou ia being oleaned out at the 160 ft level. The point} at which it is intended to sink is near where a party of tributers once obtained good payable gold, and is near the Clunes septionof the mine. During the last day or two only 12 head of stampers have been employed on company's dirt, the remaining 10 being engaged crushing a parcel of quartz for Scott and party, tributers in the mine,. Tho company's dirt still is shaping well, New Whau. — Intermediate' level: Yesterday a breaking down of a portion of the hanging-wall part of the reef took place at this level. Several tons of good crushing dirt were broken out, and strong colours of gold seen, but no specimens or picked stono obtained. The portion broken down was about 18 inches in width, and contained good mineral indica-

Mods. A start was made io tko afternoon to break through to the footwall side in order to prove ita value. 160 feet level: The drive on this level has now-been extended a distanco of 101 feet from the Alburnia boundary. The reef in the face is about 4 feot wide, but does not look very promising, especially the footwall portion, '{be hanaing-wall portion looks a- little better, the stono being more oompact and containing a better class of minerals. In the the stopes above the lode is of more value, and is yielding a quantity of good crushing dirt. For several days past crushing opentions have been suspended at the Alburnia baittery, as only fivo head of stampers could be obtained, but arrangemoDts have now been made to employ 10 head at the Herald battery instead, The mine manager's weekly report is as follows:-' 160 ft level: This drive is now 101 ft from the Alburnia boundary. The ranging, wall is still the best portion of the roof, and is good looking quartz, and from all appearance might yield speoimens at any breaking down. The stopes produce fair general crushing stuff, colours being Been at every breaking down. Intermediate: This drive is now in 12ft; '-.m quartz was broken down to-day. No speoimens wore got, but I would oxpect the quartz to orush well from the good minerals and dabs of gold seen when breaking down. There is a ohange in the face which might cause a favourable change in the quality of the quartz. The quartz in the leading stope is better mineralised than mthe drive. After to-morrow, when I shall have the necessary timbering completed, I will start another stope, which I hope will break down specimens. Crush, ingi After this week your mine will be producing a large quantity of crushing dirt, which will cause other stampers to be engaged, unless the manager of the Alburnia battery can give what we require.—Peiee JPjbbguson, June 22nd, 1880."

New Noam DuvoN.-The tributers, Garvey and party, have finished their crushing of 61 loads of general dirt and a large parcel of picked stone for the handsome return of 4160 as lOdwts retorted gold. ■ Kubanui Hut, - The tributers, Williams and party, have finished" a omening of general dirt at the company's battery, for the yield of Bozs 4dwts gold. WiiTKKAUBi.-Hollis and party, tributers, have orushed' a parcel of general dirt for the return of 90£ozs of melted gold.

Little Sissy.—Gibbons and party obtained 7ozs 7dwts gold from a large pareel of quartz crashed at the Queen of Beauty mill,

Waiotahi OBBBK.-Kane and party, prospectors, banked loz 13dwts gold yesterday, and Wells and party 6ozs 13dwts.